CBD and mental health in an age of anxiety

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CBD and anxiety: How it works

The anxiolytic effects of CBD are largely thought to be due to four significant neuroprotective actions that occur in the brain, when you take it.

Increases Anandamide

Anandamide is a fatty acid neurotransmitter and was the first naturally occurring cannabinoid to be discovered in the human body. Taking its name from the Sanskrit word ananda, meaning bliss, it’s also widely-known as the bliss chemical.

Anandamide plays a key role in our motivation, pain, panic, depression, memory, and pleasure processes, so it’s no wonder that increasing levels of anandamide could help to counterbalance feelings of anxiety and depression.

According to research, CBD acts as an anandamide re-uptake and breakdown inhibitor. CBD isn’t boosting levels of anandamide, but simply helping to keep these neurotransmitters around in your brain for longer.

Amplifies GABA

GABA plays an especially important role in reducing overwhelming feelings of anxiety by slowing down fear and anxiety signals in the brain at GABA-A receptors.

Where THC binds itself directly to receptors in the brain (which is why it has an intoxicating effect), CBD acts differently, as an allosteric modulator of receptors. This means it can enhance or inhibit signals that are being transmitted by various receptors by changing the shape of them.

In particular, CBD has been shown to be a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor, meaning it can amplify the natural calming effect of our GABA amino acids.

Alters Serotonin Signals

Low serotonin levels are commonly associated with people suffering from anxiety and depression.

Evidence has shown that CBD activates our serotonin (5-HT) receptor, altering this neurotransmitter’s signals in the brain. Again, CBD doesn’t necessarily boost your levels of serotonin, instead it’s thought that CBD alters the way that your brain responds to your current levels of serotonin.

Enhances Adenosine Signaling

Adenosine receptors are also directly involved in the regulation of anxiety, as well as other psychiatric disorders.

Studies have shown that CBD can enhance adenosine signaling by inhibiting uptake of adenosine.

Source: https://cannaversesolutions.com/blog/cbd-and-mental-health/

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